Former UFC Referee Joao Alberto Barreto Releases Book Analyzing the Evolution of MMA

Once considered the top student of Helio Gracie and main sparring
partner of Carlson Gracie in the 1950's, the great master Joao
Alberto Barreto recently launched his book “Do Valetudo Brasileiro
ao Mixed Martial Arts” (From Brazilian Valetudo to Mixed Martial
Arts) at the Club Marimbas in Rio de Janeiro.

The book analyzes the evolution of martial arts techniques,
focusing primarily on jiu-jitsu and Vale Tudo. In the work ,
Barreto, who is a post graduate in psychology, also criticizes "the
lack of importance for skilled submissions, which are being
replaced by mere exchange of beating and kicking."

Barreto, who was appointed by “Big” John McCarthy as one of the
first UFC referees, also gives a brief history of Vale Tudo in
Brazil and "within this evolutionary process" analyzes the
"commercial interest and television" which, in his opinion, is
impoverishing the noble sport of fighting and saturating the market
with second class confrontations. The master also questions the
spelling of the word Vale-Tudo in Portuguese, which in his opinion
needs to be spelled without hyphen: “Valetudo.”

In an interview with Sherdog.com Brazilian correspondent Marcelo
Alonso , Barreto reveals that his favorite current fighter is
Jon
Jones.

"Today wrestling is the most dominant style in MMA and, taking into
account the way the guard of jiu-jitsu has been misused, I have no
doubt that Jones is the most perfect fighter for MMA today,”
Barreto said.

The book, published by Tatame Publishing Company, is a scathing
analysis of the fight and the fighter, supported by the experience
of decades living and working in the middle of the sport as an
athlete, coach, referee and psychologist.